This week, bi-partisan opioid legislation, called the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, was signed into law. We commend both parties and both houses of Congress for coming together to stem the devastating opioid epidemic sweeping the nation.

The package improves access to treatment by establishing grants for comprehensive recovery centers, expanding access to medication assisted treatment, and lifting barriers to residential treatment. At a time when overdose deaths and suicides are reaching record highs, strong action and a united front are needed now more than ever.

While this legislation is an important step in the right direction, it is not a substitute for the larger investment needed to meaningfully grow access to mental health and substance use treatment. Decades of chronic under-investment coupled with Illinois’ recent budget impasse have left a major gap between the amount of treatment available and the number of people needing support. This is a good first step, but it is not enough to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.

We hope that lawmakers will build upon this consensus and commitment to continue to work toward ensuring that all people in all communities have access to the treatment and support they need to recover and thrive.

Media Contact: Emily Moen, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing, 715.308.1951